Edmunds recaps Cadillac future product plans

Edmunds’ Inside Line sub-site decided recently to give a run-down of all the latest rumors of Cadillac’s future products. Lots of this isn’t really news to regulars of the Caddy Edge – but it might be interesting to put all of this in one post for future reference.

I’ll put the abbreviated version here – if you want more commentary you can check out the link to their post below… CTS – 2008 brings the new sedan, 2009 could see the introduction of the CTS coupe and wagon variants (of course, if you remember that the S in CTS means sedan, this could mean a CTC and CTW…though the strength of the CTS brand will likely mean these are going to be the CTS coupe and CTS wagon).

BRX – smaller than SRX crossover. Based on GM’s Theta platform that is the basis for products as varied as the Chevy Equinox, Saturn VUE, Pontiac Torrent, as well as the Suzuki XL7. Expect this as a 2010 model.

BLS – second generation entry-level sedan based on the new Alpha chassis (rear drive and based on the Kappa and Zeta rear drive component sets). Alpha is expected to launch in 2010-2011

DTS – moving to the Zeta chassis and rear drive in 2010.

XLS – Edmunds conjecture of the name for the on-again/off-again V-12 ultra-Cadillac sedan based on a lengthened Zeta chassis. Expected in 2010-2011.

XLR – second generation of the SL competitor based on the new C7 Corvette chassis. Launched in 2012.

SRX – cancelled due to low sales to be replaced by the CTS wagon and the BRX. Expect this to happen around 2010.

STS – cancelled/replaced by the new rear-drive DTS. I’d disagree with Edmunds on this prediction. I expect that DTS will likely be the name that goes away given the brand equity that exists in the STS.

It certainly looks like we are about 2 years from a busy time at Cadillac. If Edmunds is correct (or even partially so) in their reading of the tea leaves.

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3 Comments

John MartinApril 2, 2007

Greetings,

All of this future news of Cadillac is very exciting. As a Cadillac owner of the STS V8 and XLR I am looking forward to seeing what my favorite luxury brand has in store. I have made plans to replace both the Cadillac STS V-8 and XLR with Cadillac’s STS-V and XLR-V. But all this talk makes one pause and think waiting just may be the best move. Mmmm, I think a short lease is in order, say 2009 and then see what 2010 to 2112 has in order for Cadillac’s new models.

I must say, I am so completely satisfied with Cadillac’s STS V8 and XLR, that is why I am looking to upgrade to their V Series. However, with all of the updates coming, like the new 2008 CTS, it really looks like very exciting times for Cadillac’s luxury customers.

JLM

DUSTINApril 3, 2007

I wish Cadillac would build a Super Luxury small car. Seriously, a 40K car under 160in., leather the works. I am not joking, I think they would sell a crap load of those cars and bring a lot of new people to the Caddy brand that arent going to buy now.

Basically you are suggesting an A-class vehicle (FYI, 160 inches is about 1.5 feet longer than a Mini Cooper).

Lots of luxury brands are moving into the smaller classes (BMW 1-series, Volvo C30, Mercedes A and B class – of which, only the Mercedes A-class is actually not several inches longer than you are suggesting).

Would Cadillac do well in some markets with this size vehicle? Possibly in Europe, etc where a high-dollar, tiny car is already an accepted segment of the market. However, I would argue that the development dollars at Cadillac are much better spent on the core products in the BLS and up sizes, coupe and wagon variants, multiple ‘utility’ vehicles…only after fleshing out the lineup and being successful could they risk moving into a segment where they might not be accepted.

Also, they should certainly wait to put a vehicle in that size class into the US market for the US consumers to get over their unusual idea that small = cheap. The MINI has helped, but that segment needs time to develop before the premier US luxury brand takes a chance on it.

That said, I’d love a tiny, rear-drive, V-6 Cadillac…but I think we’ll need at least another 99,998 or so takers per year before it would make sense to do.